Chapter 5: Workforce

Chartbook 2003 Physician Workforce After dropping slightly in 1999, the number of active physicians per thousand population rose slightly in 2000, while the number of medical and dental residents in training held constant. The number of physicians per thousand varied by region and was particularly high in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic and relatively low in parts of the South and West (Charts 5.1 – 5.3). Hospital Workforce The number of full time equivalent employees (FTEs) working in hospitals continued to increase, although FTEs per adjusted admission has been declining since The number of registered nurse (RN) FTEs has been increasing slowly; however the number of RN FTEs per adjusted admission continues to decrease. RN FTEs as a percentage of total hospital FTEs has remained steady between 24 and 25 percent from 1986 through 2000 (Charts 5.4 – 5.7). Current and Long-term Workforce Shortage It is well documented that the U.S. population is aging. As people age, they tend to have greater health care needs. Unfortunately, the current health care workforce is also aging and many fear that the current nursing shortage will worsen over the next 20 years just as the population is requiring more health care services. However, efforts to build the RN workforce may be making progress data indicated an 8 percent increase in individuals enrolling in entry level baccalaureate nursing programs. It will, of course, be a few years before these new graduates enter the workforce and, when they do, hospitals will face fierce competition in hiring them (Charts 5.8 – 5.13). Focus has recently returned to the debate over the adequacy of the size, specialty mix, and geographic distribution of the current and future physician workforce. Though the number of primary care and specialty physicians is growing, there are currently geographic pockets of physician shortage now. As with the aging nursing population, there is also concern that the aging physician population will be inadequate to serve the health care needs of the aging population. Chapter 5: Workforce 52

Workforce Chartbook 2003 Chart 5.1: Total Number of Active Physicians per 1,000 Persons 1980 – 2000 Chart 5.2: Total Number of Active Physicians (1) per 1,000 Persons by State 2000 Source: Health United States, 1982, , 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 (1) 1980 does not include doctors of osteopathy Source: Health United States, 2002 (1) Includes active non-federal doctors of medicine and active doctors of osteopathy < 2 2 – – 3.99 > 4 RI 3.33 DE 2.44 DC 6.91 (1) 53

Workforce Chartbook 2003 Chart 5.3: Medical and Dental Residents in Training in Community Hospitals Source: The Lewin Group analysis of American Hospital Association Annual Survey data, 1980 – 2001, for community hospitals Chart 5.4: Total Full Time Equivalent Employees Working in Hospitals Source: The Lewin Group analysis of American Hospital Association Annual Survey data, 1980 – 2001, for community hospitals Thousands 54

Workforce Chartbook 2003 Chart 5.5: Full Time Equivalent Employees per Adjusted Admission Source: The Lewin Group analysis of American Hospital Association Annual Survey data, 1980 – 2001, for community hospitals Chart 5.6: Number of RN Full Time Equivalent Employees and RN FTEs per Adjusted Admission Source: The Lewin Group analysis of American Hospital Association Annual Survey data, 1986 – 2001, for community hospitals Thousands of RN FTEs RN FTEs per Adjusted Admission RN FTEs RN FTEs per Adjusted Admission 55

Workforce Chartbook 2003 Chart 5.7: RN Full Time Equivalents as a Percentage of Total Hospital Full Time Equivalents Source: The Lewin Group analysis of American Hospital Association Annual Survey data, 1986 – 2001, for community hospitals Chart 5.8: Number of Physicians by Age 1980, 1990, and 2001 Source: American Medical Association, Physician Characteristics and Distribution in the US, Edition Under & Over Age 45 and over Age under 44 Number of Physicians (in thousands) Age Group

Workforce Chartbook Chart 5.9: RN Employment by Type of Provider Source: Findings from the National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses, , Bureau of Health Professions, Division of Nursing Hospitals Nursing Homes / Extended Care Facilities Public / Community Health All Other Chart 5.10: Distribution of RN Workforce by Age Group (Projected) Source: Buerhaus, P.I. et al. Implications of an Aging Registered Nurse Workforce. JAMA: 2000: 283: , ,000 1, (proj.)2010 (proj.)2020 (proj.) Number of RNs (in thousands) Age under 40 Age 40 and over Age Group 20s 30s 40s 50s 60s

Workforce Chartbook Chart 5.11: Annual Percentage Change in Entry Level Baccalaureate Nursing Enrollment Source: Berlin LE et al. Enrollment and Graduations in Baccalaureate and Graduate Programs in Nursing. Washington, DC: American Association of Colleges of Nursing, – Chart 5.12: National Supply and Demand Projections for FTE RNs Source: National Center For Health Workforce Analysis, Bureau of Health Professions, Health Resources and Services Administration, 2002 FTEs (in thousands) RN FTE Demand RN FTE Supply Shortage of over 800,000 nurses in 2020